Radson Named Dean of Business and Economics

Darrell Radson, head of the Department of Decision Science in Drexel University's
LeBow School of Business, in Philadelphia, has agreed to serve as dean of the School
of Business and Economics at Michigan Technological University, effective Aug. 1.

Radson, an associate professor, was previously the associate dean of the Boler School
of Business at John Carroll University, near Cleveland, Ohio, and was on the business
faculty of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee from 1991 to 2003.

He holds PhD and MS degrees in Industrial and Operations Engineering, as well as MA
degrees in Statistics and Political Science, from the University of Michigan, Ann
Arbor. His BA in Political Science is from Northwestern University, in Evanston, Ill.

Radson's skills offer a particularly good fit for the University, President Glenn
D. Mroz said. “Our strategic plan calls for us to educate our students in the business
of innovation and to support entrepreneurship and technology transfer," he said. "That
will require increased collaboration across academic units, and Darrell’s strengths
in these areas will be key as we move toward achieving those goals."

"Darrell has a strong background in both business and engineering and an operations
research perspective that links to many areas of high interest at the University,"
said Provost Lesley Lovett-Doust. "He speaks good 'engineer,' and that’s a significant
asset for the business dean at a technological university. I am very pleased that
he is planning to develop and launch a strong online MBA program, something our alumni
have been requesting for some time. He will also help identify opportunities for growth
in graduate study and collaborative research, perhaps through interdisciplinary doctoral
programs. The search committee did a great job and have found someone who is an excellent
fit for Tech."

She also praised outgoing dean Christa Walck's accomplishments. "Christa has done
a wonderful job of building the faculty complement and the resource base for the School
of Business and Economics, and her generous and thoughtful contributions to the administration,
including her collaborative contribution to the development of the Strategic Hiring
search process, are much appreciated," Lovett-Doust said.

Radson received awards for both teaching and research at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
and earned the Best Teacher Award for the MBA program at Drexel University. He has
published numerous articles in Quality Engineering, Production and Operations Management
and other leading research journals.

Among his accomplishments, Radson redesigned the curriculum of Drexel's BS in Commerce
and Engineering to better align it with changes in the business and engineering curricula
both at Drexel and across the country, particularly by adding an emphasis on innovation
and entrepreneurship. He developed and co-taught a Six Sigma quality implementation
course in the MBA program and began a pilot program to integrate business students
into College of Engineering Senior Design teams.

"The future of many engineers is in business, so having a business school within a
technological university is a great advantage," said Radson. "Engineers need a solid
foundation in business, and business students need a firm technological background
as well. The future for our students and our economy is the successful introduction
of new technological and innovative products and services into our economy."

"With my background in both fields, I'm excited to be coming to Michigan Tech," he
said. "I hope to see the School of Business and Economics integrated in many areas
across campus, so the scientists and engineers are better educated in business, and
the business students have a better understanding of science and engineering. It’s
a win-win situation."

On a personal note, Radson, a Chicago native, said he was happy to be coming back
to the Midwest. "My wife grew up in Three Rivers, Mich. I met her in Ann Arbor and
lived in Ann Arbor for many years, so I have an affinity toward the state. I’m happy
to return to Michigan after being away for such a long time."

Michigan Technological University is a public research university, home to more than
7,000 students from 60 countries around the world. Founded in 1885, the University
offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology,
engineering, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics,
and social sciences. Our beautiful campus in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula overlooks
the Keweenaw Waterway and is just a few miles from Lake Superior.